I asked the Prophet ﷺ "Which deed is the dearest to Allah?" He replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times." I asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents" I again asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, 'To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's cause." ʿAbdullah added, "I asked only that much and if I had asked more, the Prophet ﷺ would have told me more."

سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا۔» قَالَ: ثُمَّ أَىُّ؟ قَالَ: «ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ۔» قَالَ: ثُمَّ أَىُّ؟ قَالَ: «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ۔» قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي

I heard Abi ʿAmr 'Ash-Shaibani saying, "The owner of this house." he pointed to ʿAbdullah's house, "said, 'I asked the Prophet ﷺ 'Which deed is loved most by Allah?" He replied, 'To offer prayers at their early (very first) stated times.' " ʿAbdullah asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "To be good and dutiful to one's parents," ʿAbdullah asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "To participate in Jihad for Allah's Cause." ʿAbdullah added, "The Prophet ﷺ narrated to me these three things, and if I had asked more, he would have told me more."

أَخْبَرَنَا صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا قَالَ ثُمَّ أَىُّ قَالَ ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَىّ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي

I asked Messenger of Allah ﷺ, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! What is the best deed?" He replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times." I asked, "What is next in goodness?" He replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents." I further asked, what is next in goodness?" He replied, "To participate in Jihad in Allah's Cause." I did not ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ anymore and if I had asked him more, he would have told me more.

عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ ؓ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى مِيقَاتِهَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَسَكَتُّ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي

The owner of this house told me that he asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: Which of the deeds are liked by Allah? He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Prayer at its proper time. I (again) said: What next? He replied: Then goodness to the parents. I (again) said: What then? He replied: Then Jihad in the cause of Allah. He ('Abdullah) said: This is what I was told (by the Holy Prophet). Had I questioned further, he would have made additions for me.

حَدَّثَنِي صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَشَارَ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَىُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي

"I heard Abu 'Amr Ash-Shaibani say: 'The owner of this house - and he pointed to the house of 'Abdullah - said: I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: 'Which deed is most beloved to Allah, may He be exalted?' He said: 'Prayer offered on time, honoring one's parents, and Jihad in the cause of Allah.'"

حَدَّثَنَا صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَشَارَ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا وَبِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ﷻ